Discharge Measurement of Streamflow
Summary
Students travel to a stream on campus and measure streamflow by two methods: current meter and float. They are asked to compare their data and make observations of bed and banks of the stream.
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Context
Audience
Undergraduate course in geomorphology with a 3-hour lab.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
none
How the activity is situated in the course
Conducted as the second lab activity
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Learn about USGS discharge measurements and what they are used for. Learn about the characteristics of a representative channel cross section. Make a discharge measurement.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Collection of basic data. Making field observations and recording them. Evaluation of data collected.
Other skills goals for this activity
Working in groups in the field.
Description of the activity/assignment
Students are divided into small groups. Each group chooses a channel cross section and makes a discharge measurement both using a current meter and a surface float. Students share the data collected in the lab but each student calculates discharge on their own and answers related questions.
Designed for a geomorphology course
Designed for a geomorphology course
Determining whether students have met the goals
Data sheets and answers to questions are turned in the next week during lab.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Microsoft Word 55kB Jul25 08)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
Buchanan, T.J. and Someres, W.P., 1969, Discharge measurements at gaging stations: Techniques of Water-resources investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Chapter 8A, Book 3, 65 p.